Making Honkai Impact lll In A World Where Kallen Exists [Continuation]

Seeing Kevin discover something new, Elysia, ever curious, immediately moved closer.

Before long, everyone gathered around to take a look.

"So this is the crystal ball mentioned earlier? Uh… Lome's description was so strange that I couldn't tell. If it's this one, I've seen it before—Eden's concert souvenir."

"It's rare that you've kept it all this time, Kevin. It seems you really like Eden's music."

Elysia gently touched the surface of the crystal ball, not daring to press too hard. The crack was so prominent that she doubted it could still function properly.

"...Yeah." Kevin's fingers brushed against the transparent sphere, his gaze distant as memories surfaced—of the joy in Griseo's eyes when he gave it to her.

Griseo wasn't good at expressing gratitude, but she would never discard a friend's belongings so carelessly. She wasn't that kind of person.

Which meant... the reason was painfully clear.

"Let's go find Griseo."

Kevin carefully put the crystal ball away, his eyes flickering with emotion.

Though his face remained expressionless, his grip on the crystal ball tightened as he continued walking forward.

Vita, standing to the side, shrugged. In her heart, she crossed Sa off her mental list again. It seemed inevitable now—they would have to fight.

There wasn't much else to see—just the helplessness that lingered from when the Ark was forcibly brought down and destroyed, leaving nothing but remnants in its wake.

They entered the forbidden zone, encountering no obstacles on their way to the stasis chamber. For Vita, a native of this place, the permissions required to access it were nearly impossible to obtain. However, for the Flame-Chasers, they all qualified effortlessly.

Although, if Elysia or Kalpas approached, the system might display a message indicating that the person with the required permissions was already deceased, if the system's updates were timely, that is.

Fu Hua stepped forward and gently brushed the dust off the surface. Beneath the transparent glass lay a sleeping beauty.

The title "Sleeping Beauty" was fitting. Beneath short blue hair rested a familiar face, her eyes closed, exuding a quiet and serene aura. From her appearance alone, it was clear she had grown up.

Her dress, in shades of light blue and white, featured delicate white patterns. A golden ribbon on her chest held a compass and a small telescope, suggesting the owner's concern for misplacing them. After all, these two items were essential for a little interstellar traveler.

Unlike her younger self, she no longer liked walking barefoot. Now, she wore proper socks and shoes—thick white stockings encased her legs, and functional straps on her leg accessories held three brushes, ready for her to use for painting at any time.

No matter how much she had grown, the child who once held a paintbrush in her hand—pure as a blank canvas—had quietly transformed, with the dazzling stars becoming her home.

"Griseo…"

Elysia gazed at the familiar yet changed companion within, her heart aching.

Growing up was an inevitable part of life. But Griseo… do you still long for growth?

Elysia already knew the answer, which made her heart ache even more. When Griseo resolutely embarked on her journey to the stars, she had already completed her growth.

Kevin stared at the resting Griseo, lost in thought for a moment, before pressing a special communicator to request contact with someone.

"Hello, hello! You're finally opening communication? I've been dying to ask you so many things… Why did you set it up to be one-sided? Real-time interaction is the most important thing!" Vil-V's dissatisfied voice came through, full of complaints.

Kevin had already guessed this, which was why he specifically requested the one-sided setting.

Before it broke, the communicator allowed real-time video transmission at any moment, but calls could be one-sidedly blocked.

"How do we save Griseo?"

Kevin's question, as always, was concise. Among those familiar with the Ark, Vill-V undoubtedly knew it best—at least from a technical standpoint, given Griseo's extensive time with it.

"Turn off the stasis pod… Wait, wait, don't rush! Elysia, Griseo is clearly trapped inside due to some kind of mental force. You need to help her first, then open it. Right now, the stasis pod isn't just containing Griseo—it's also keeping her alive."

Vill-V hurriedly explained. Who knew Elysia would be so impatient, already prepared to cut off the power?

Didn't she understand the Ark's structure? What if she made a mistake?

Perhaps she didn't grasp the urgency of her companions on the scene, but there was no need to be so reckless.

Hearing this, Kevin silently lowered his greatsword. At least Vill-V's warning had come in time.

"Cough, cough—use a stigma first. According to Dr. Mobius' research, this particular stigma is a comprehensive enhancement. And Luo Mo said it's highly compatible with Griseo, allowing her to recover quickly. After that… you can cut the power. Oh, and Elysia, don't destroy the energy source—Griseo might need it later."

Vill-V hurriedly added. From the earlier view, she had vaguely seen Kevin's greatsword poised and ready to strike.

Was Kevin always this intense? That should be Kalpas's role!

Vill-V was puzzled, but one thing was clear—Griseo had indeed grown a lot.

It was surprising.

Even though the same amount of time had passed, Fu Hua hadn't changed much~

Vil-V slowly glanced at Hua, comparing her to the projection of Fu Hua in the video. Hmm... Still the same as before?

Over there, Kevin and Elysia, already knowing what to do, moved swiftly to act.

First, Elysia took out the Stigmata card. Compared to the projected images of physical objects, her and Kalpas' presence here as memory constructs powered by the Stigmata seemed to have brought their whole essence over. She wasn't entirely clear on the principles behind this phenomenon.

Even more peculiar was how the Stigmata, anchored in physical cards, acted as if it had transcended space. However, this was something Mobius had hypothesized.

Elysia placed the Stigmata on the glass cover, gently pressing it. The Stigmata passed through the glass and directly entered the back of the sleeping girl.

A deep crimson mark silently formed in an unseen spot. Accompanied by a spreading warmth, more vitality emerged within her body. It illuminated the cycles of repetition in her mind with sunlight, dissipating the falsehoods and merging the grey she used to protect herself into her being.

Kevin then cut off the energy supply. The glass cover slowly opened, releasing thin wisps of white mist, cold and frosty.

Vita's eyes flickered. How should she put this? She understood the concept, but… could Stigmata really be removed so casually and then placed back like that?

Regardless, she made a mental note of it.

Within the pod, long eyelashes fluttered, eyelids trembling faintly as if waking from an endless dream.

The time she spent asleep was long, but no longer than that dream. At last, the Sleeping Beauty opened her eyes—violet pupils blinking in wonder.

"Eh? Uncle Kevin, Sister Hua, Sister Elysia, Brother Kalpas… Have you come to fetch me?"

The newly awakened painter appeared disoriented. She rested her hand on the edge of the pod, her hair swaying gently as she looked at them in confusion.

"Hmm… My back feels strange. Ah, did I get stronger?"

She tilted her head adorably, still half-dreaming. Her hand reached back instinctively, but her skin was smooth—nothing was there.

"Griseo… it's been a while~" Elysiachuckled warmly.

"Griseo, come on out."

Kevin extended his hand to her, his eternally icy expression softening with a hint of warmth.

"Griseo…" Fu Hua murmured, her eyes reflecting joy. No matter what, her awakening was a good thing.

Her gaze, however, fell to a corner where a crimson glow caught her attention. The pattern on it… seemed familiar.

She stepped closer, picking it up. The bright red sculpture of a Vermilion Bird was intricately crafted, vivid as if alive. Initially cold to the touch, it soon grew warm in her hand as if absorbing her body heat.

She tightened her grip and nonchalantly returned to the group.

Only Kalpas and Vita noticed this subtle action.

"Am I… dreaming? How odd, why does it feel so real?" Griseo blinked, still baffled by the scene before her.

Her fingers instinctively reached toward Kevin's hand, seeking to confirm the temperature she thought she could feel—the realness of it.

"It's not a dream, Griseo. Can't you see the colors of everything?" Elysia teased, ruffling her hair gently.

Her hair was as silky and smooth as ever.

Feeling the warmth atop her head, the touch of her palm, and the vibrant colors before her, Griseo suddenly felt an urge to cry. But it was only an impulse.

She had grown up—become a qualified warrior.

Yet… as she looked at the familiar faces before her, vivid as in her memories, and the colors she had seen countless times, her heart trembled. Her time wandering the stars had been lonely and endless, like a traveler unable to return home.

She smiled, though a single tear slipped down her cheek. "It's so nice… I never thought I'd see you all again. Sister Elysia—no, I shouldn't call you Sister Elysia now. I can't let you keep fooling me!"

She feigned annoyance.

Which only made her seem more adorable.

"Well, I don't mind," Elysia replied with a playful smile. "But Mobius? She might still want you to call her 'Granny.' Really."

"Wha—? Is that true?" Griseo exclaimed before bursting into giggles. "Well, compared to Uncle Kevin, I'm more curious about your situation, Elysia… Sister Elysia."

"Me? This time, I'll stay by your side with everyone else. Don't worry about a thing."

Elysia's voice was tender and soothing.

Kevin and Fu Hua silently observed the scene. Kalpas turned away, gazing at the shifting clouds, seemingly eager for his next battle.

"Really?" Griseo asked, her voice filled with joy. But moments later, she shook her head, lowering her eyes. "No… I still have my own plans to fulfill. The Ark…"

"The Ark is gone," Elysia said casually. "Let Vill-V fix it. Don't worry—even if we can't meet immediately, we'll always be with you. It won't disrupt your plans at all~"

Elysia's tone was lighthearted, but her words carried a deeper resolve. Defeating Honkai was everyone's shared hope and aspiration.

Yet… she wished for everyone to find a little more happiness, even just a tiny bit.

"…Alright."

Griseo's quiet response filled the moment with warmth.

The group didn't mind lingering. They listened as Griseo briefly recounted her travels, her experiences, and what she had seen before being captured and brought here. Even simple storytelling and occasional feedback eased the star-bound traveler's heart and brought her some relief.

Meanwhile, thanks to Vill-V's communications device and Kevin keeping the connection closed, back in the Golden Courtyard, everyone could hear Mobius' enraged yelling.

"A-LI-CIA!! You're the one who likes being called 'Granny!' I've got solid evidence this time. You—!"

"Don't think you can fool anyone anymore. You've been caught! Ahhh—Vill-V, open the connection already! I need to speak with her!"

Everyone heard Mobius' thundering voice echoing through the hall. Soon after, she was seen storming back and forth in fury.

"Not happening. I told you—it's one-way. You can only watch." Vil-V muttered under her breath. She'd long wanted to speak up herself, but sadly, she was only given the chance when needed.

As for Mobius? Well, not only could she do nothing about Elysia now, but she wouldn't have any luck after Elysia returned either.

This was undeniably a profoundly saddening matter.

"Griseo, do you think you look beautiful now that you've grown up?" Aponia asked with a gentle smile, her gaze fixed on the video projection by Vill-V that displayed the now-awakened Griseo.

"I've grown taller… and grown up too… um, bigger than Hua-sis and Pardo-sis," Griseo blinked, uttering something rather astonishing.

Children often speak unfiltered truths; lies don't hurt, but the truth cuts sharp.

Struck by this sharp truth, the memory version of Hua pressed her lips together, lowering her gaze helplessly before glancing at Griseo. She sighed softly.

Pardo, on the other hand, seemed unconcerned and laughed cheerfully, "That doesn't really matter. It just makes it harder to, uh… 'acquire' items without being noticed."

"But, Pardo-sis… why would you need to worry about being noticed when getting things? I… I don't understand," little Griseo tilted her head curiously.

Perhaps seeing her grown-up self had sparked an eagerness for knowledge within her, a desire to grow even faster. However, as a memory construct, growth seemed impossible… though perhaps now things were different?

"Ah, a familiar keepsake. Wasn't it from an anniversary concert? I didn't expect Kevin to keep it in such good condition and even give it to Griseo," Eden chuckled softly. Watching from the sidelines, she could only silently wish them success in their endeavors. So far, things seemed to be progressing smoothly.

"Kevin has admired Eden's voice since his school days. He's always been a fan," Su remarked with closed eyes, though it was unclear how he had obtained this insight. His tone, however, left no doubt.

"That, I do know. If you'd like, I can create another one for Griseo… though I'm not very skilled at crafting. But capturing the essence of the song, that's what truly matters, isn't it?" Eden said.

"…That works too," Su responded calmly.

Later, Griseo began recounting what she knew about Sa. The group consolidated their knowledge and intelligence, not avoiding Vita, who listened intently to every word.

This, however, had its reasons. For instance…

"…Wait a second. Why are you openly discussing how to deal with me right in front of me?" Vita asked, baffled, with a hint of indignation.

She had long wanted to leave, but escaping was easier said than done.

Of course, she understood their intentions—this was a blatant attempt to force her hand, leaving her with no choice but to align with them. They even insisted she had the means to help. But why did it have to be her?

Frustrated, she puffed out her cheeks, feigning anger. "This is just unfair!"